F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali makes ‘very strong’ Lewis Hamilton prediction amid Ferrari 2025 struggles

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Lewis Hamilton will be desperate to see his form turn around after a difficult start to life at Ferrari in 2025.

The seven-time champion is yet to score a podium for the Maranello outfit, excluding Sprint races. It is the longest he has gone without a podium in a season in his entire F1 career.

Hamilton has been struggling to adapt to Ferrari’s F1 car and their working methods. It has been a massive culture shock for the Brit since leaving Mercedes, and he has been looking to offer his input and make changes.

Hamilton sent ‘documents’ to Ferrari staff ahead of the Belgian GP, detailing ways he felt the team could improve. That weekend, they introduced their long-awaited rear suspension upgrade, but even that could not bring results for the 40-year-old.

Teammate Charles Leclerc adapted much quicker than Hamilton to the update, as he suffered a double Q1 elimination at Spa, while the Monegasque driver grabbed his fifth podium of 2025. The Brit’s woes have continued at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Stefano Domenicali thinks Lewis Hamilton will be ‘very strong’ in the second half of 2025

Times were extremely close in qualifying at the Hungaroring, as Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 in 12th by just 15 thousandths of a second. Leclerc secured his 27th career pole position ahead of the McLarens, highlighting the sheer gap between the Ferrari drivers.

Hamilton was completely dejected after qualifying, calling himself ‘useless’ and he even suggested that Ferrari needed to swap drivers. He is in desperate need of a confidence boost and a reset.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali still has high hopes for the 40-year-old after the summer break. Speaking on the grid before the Hungarian GP, the former Ferrari boss thinks Hamilton will be ‘very strong’ in the second half of the season.

“He’s a jewel, he’s an incredible athlete. No matter, it’s a difficult moment,” he said via Sky Sports F1 (03/08, 1:48pm).

“I’m pretty sure that he will show what is the reason why he is here. He wants his eighth title and he will try until the end.

“So, stay with Lewis and I’m sure he will do a great race and he will be very, very strong in the second half of the season.”

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What is going wrong for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025?

Hamilton has found it difficult to adapt to his new surroundings in Maranello. The car and the operation at Ferrari have taken time to get accustomed to, leaving him considerably behind Leclerc.

Sam Bird noticed Hamilton struggling with braking during qualifying in Hungary, a problem he has encountered all season with the SF-25. He has not been able to adapt his aggressive braking style to the car, leading him to demand changes.

However, people in the paddock think Hamilton is ‘not firing properly’ as well as Ferrari, given his poor run of form. The Brit has struggled with this generation of cars and he will be banking on the 2026 F1 regulations to provide him with a competitive car.

Hamilton has ‘requested’ a meeting with Enrico Gualtieri, Ferrari’s power unit chief, to discuss next season’s plans. 2026 could be his last chance to win his eighth title, with Ralf Schumacher sending a retirement warning to Hamilton after his qualifying disaster in Hungary.